Comparative Study

Comparative Study: Buddy Young 2 weeks on VitaRoyal Base feed + Untie + Nutrient Buffer


10.22.07	11.6.07

11.20.07

10.22.07	11.6.07
	Click here to watch movie of Buddy walking
11.20.07	11.20.07 sound on concrete

The story of Buddy:

•Buddy was brought to my attention middle of April 2004. His owner had exhausted her resources. The veterinarian in charge had been very angry with her, because she didn’t want to put the horse down. The horse really belonged to her daughter Megan, who is home schooled together with her sister Kelly.

•Buddy was diagnosed with founder in February - 28 degrees rotation in the right fore and 24 degrees rotation in the left fore. He also was believed to have Cushing’s disease and he was on medication for that. He came with that diagnosis and the medication, an antihistamine named Cypro-heptadine, about three years ago to his new home. He is 19 years old.

•He arrived finally in Horrell Hill on Saturday May 1st. We got as much information as possible, including a blood panel. He was on a massive dose of Butazolidin. I was corresponding frantically with Todd Merrell and we had a well laid plan, so it seemed.

•I took him off the antihistamine for the Cushing’s syndrome immediately and tried to give him a few days to get adjusted to the new life. He started out with a very quiet horse in the front pasture, which is about 3 acres.

•On Monday we put together all our powers, gave him some Rescue Remedy and trimmed first the hind feet. We then took off the shoe of the lesser rotated hoof and trimmed that one. It was difficult, as Buddy ripped the foot repeatedly out of my hands and slammed it down violently. We gave him some more rescue remedy, put a hoof boot on the left front and proceeded with the right front. That one was worse and he was more resistant. There was also a lot of heel to trim down. My helpers took turns holding his foot. With reasonable results we quit, all exhausted including the horse. Two days later a sling arrived and was installed. Buddy was not at all thrilled about the sling. He fought in it and would not give me that hoof any more than he had with all four feet firmly planted on the ground. The next day I could trim a tiny little bit while he was lying down in front of the barn. Later I find out that the former farrier beat him repeatedly with the rasp. Next time he was in the middle of his morning feed, I walked up to him without a farrier apron on and the knives stuck in my jeans pocket. And he would give me his foot for some trimming.

•The day after the first trim my animal communicator was here. She was certain that he would hang in there – just because. He didn’t have much stake in the future. She tested some herbal additions like licorice and sassafras; we ordered and started to add it to his feed. He also is on yucca (which he says tastes bad) and milk thistle.

•Two days later he got massaged. It helped him a great deal. Some of his “lumpiness” disappeared. He got walked every day and seemed to improve. We tried to put him into the herd, but that was not a success. There are some real pushers in this herd, they try to climb up in the herd hierarchy and are very rough. So back to the front pasture with his friend Paddy.

•May 11 the dentist came. I asked him to only do what he could do without sedation. I didn’t want to compromise his fragile system any further. Spencer LeFlure removed a huge corner on his incisors and Buddy breathed a sigh of relieve and then went on to eating like a normal horse. Before Spencer’s treatment he had a peculiar way of taking up grain. The owner continues to visit daily and walk him. Everything seemed fine.

•May 16 (Sunday) brought the big break down. Buddy lay down and didn’t look as if he would get up again. He moved occasionally and very painfully, but was panting and fidgety when lying down. The owner – a devout Christian – proceeded with prayers and got everyone involved as well.

•Both front feet have now coffin bone protrusion.

•We try to keep him in the shade (this is South Carolina and the afternoon sun in May can be brutal) and made him as comfortable as possible with soaks, hosing off, massaging, and grooming. General points were treated with the photonic torch.

•On Tuesday, May 18, we add remedies according to the animal communicator (who also treats all her animals homeopathically and helps many other animal owners): Hypericum, Lycopodium, Bellis and Bach Flower Rescue Remedy. He gets a dropper full three times a day. I also spray some effective microorganisms in his mouth several times a day, he seems to like that.

•We follow him around wherever he lays with hay and water. He urinates and passes manure, but the manure balls get smaller. He doesn’t eat as much as usual. Wednesday, May 19, he looks a little livelier and is up for breakfast. We have removed all herbs from his feed as we think it is more important to eat protein at all. He gets two pounds of naked oats twice a day and it takes him a good while to eat it.

•He looks a little brighter, stands more often.

•Observations of the owner: Buddy changes his ideal resting area often according to his need for heat, to sweat, or to cool off. He is of course, as he continues to get better, making those changes more often.
I watched Buddy for a few days for several hours, and I believe he is practicing a sort of "Yoga" when he is lying down, which might help to stretch the ligaments/tendons that are now over tightened due to the new angles??

•He continues to improve, his feet are soaked for hours every day, he is hand walked and groomed daily. He starts to go out with the herd ca. May 26. He likes that, he is very social and it gives him even more reason to move. June 2nd he was walking with large, forward strides, as well as trotting and cantering on grass. His eyes are bright and he is very alert. He stands better for trimming. The initial hitch in his hind legs is gone.

His improvements continue and by the end of December he is rideable and can go home. He is transferred to a boarding barn in the neighborhood. He is out 24/7 and gets trimmed every two weeks through April. Then the owners move and, as they cannot find anyone who is competent in trimming, the daughter takes over with limited trim knowledge. The horse does well for a while and even competes in the 4-H State show. By January 2006 he is however showing symptoms of founder again. I agree to trim him at his new home where he lives with the owner now. Initially he gets trimmed every week, later every two weeks and he begins to improve again. He gets detoxed a couple of times, but shows symptoms of Cushing's again, including lumpy deposits on the croup and a long hair coat. He does not gain weight. Second dental treatment in October of 2007 (a little long between visits).

On October 23, 2007 the owner attends a barn visit by Linsey McLean to HoofCareUnLtd. and takes home Vita Royal Base feed + Untie + Nutrient Buffer. After two weeks on this his lumps are significantly better, he has gained some weight and is more relaxed. About 16 days into the program he obviously needs more rest and lays down a lot. He also seems to be abscessing on the left hind, which happens often in horses when they heal. They blow out the necrotic tissues that have no room in the healing hoof anymore.

11.20.07 Buddy is sound and in good spirits. He has gained some weight and stands better for trimming.